As the sun ascended over Letum Mara's desolate plains, signs of life were as rare as hope in the hellish landscape. Only the loud knocks and angry shouts from beyond Arcadia's gates hinted at the existence of life within that forbidding hellhole.
"Let me out! I beg you, please!" pleaded a desperate voice, repeatedly knocking on the now-closed colossal gates of Arcadia.
Numerous students gathered at the gates—some violently kicking, others futilely casting Dhormu to force them open, a few incessantly cursing, and some attempting a human ladder to scale the giant walls in a desperate bid for escape.
From afar stood Dariu and Naylu as they observed the scene.
"How are they doing this so fearlessly, aren't they breaking a rule?" Asked Naylu.
"Well, technically, that is an escape attempt," remarked Dariu. "But I doubt they'll pay it much mind since this clearly won't work. I mean, just look at the size of these walls; they must be at least ten meters high. Also, I don't think a Dhormu can even nudge these thick iron gates."
"Perhap, but can you blame them for trying? After what happened yesterday..."
"No, I truly can't," responded Dariu. "We should get going; classes will soon begin," he announced, turning and starting to walk in the opposite direction.
Naylu swiftly followed, but abruptly halted as he observed Dariu coming to a stop, his gaze shifting towards the lifeless trees at the side.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," he declared, then proceeded to walk onward.
"It's strange how clean this path is after yesterday's events," remarked Naylu, as he walked alongside Dariu.
"It is," Dariu commented, "but given everything happening, it's the least peculiar thing."
Behind the dormitories loomed a massive castle hosting classes and various activities. It was the destination for Dariu and Naylu, having received instructions from Rinus, who organized them into ten different sections. Dariu and Naylu found themselves in the same third section, poised to embark on their shared academic journey.
Numerous students strolled toward the castle entrance, marked by a grand staircase that ascended to big, open wooden doors. Beyond the doors lay expansive hallways, their towering height illuminated by numerous sizable chandeliers. At every twist and turn were enormous doors leading to extensive classrooms, capable of hosting several dozen students.
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"This place is like a maze," commented Naylu as he strolled with Dariu.
"I believe this is it," said Dariu, standing at the entrance of the chamber.
They entered the chamber, finding many other students already seated. Among them, Dariu could only recognize Hena. She had left quite an impression on him the previous night, and judging by the intrigued looks from other students, she seemed to have done the same for everyone.
Dariu and Naylu took their seats next to each other, patiently awaiting the arrival of the teacher. According to the timetable provided by Rinus, they were on the verge of beginning their very first Lardhia Language lesson.
While silently counting the present students, Dariu noted one missing. His section was meant to consist of thirty-nine students, yet only thirty-eight were in attendance.
Suddenly, the room fell silent as everyone shifted their gaze toward the door. An old woman in all white had entered. She wore a long robe that trailed on the floor, and her sleeves revealed abnormally long purple nails that pierced her stones-adorned white gloves. The woman had long gray hair, a face adorned with wrinkles, and, most terrifying for the students, completely darkened eyes—void of regular eye components, just an unsettling abyss of black.
The woman strode toward her desk, an old book clasped in her hand. Placing the book on the desk, she took a few steps back and turned to face the students.
"My name is Karnella Reisus, I am your Lardhia teacher," she announced.
Shivers ran down everyone's spines as Karnella's voice resonated—a sound they had never encountered. Her voice was rough, yet high-pitched, filled with cracks as if her vocal cords were on the verge of collapsing.
"We can begin the class," she announced.
Upon Karnella's utterance, shackles on the chairs closed in on everyone's feet, completely restraining their movements. To exacerbate matters, the chairs were affixed to the floor, rendering any attempt to flee impossible.Students initially attempted to free themselves, as if testing the strength of the shackles.
"Seriously? What's this now?!" Hena complained, in an angry tone.
First the gates and now this, we truly are no more than prisoners in this place, Dariu thought.
"For those simple-minded of you who don't already know, Lardhia is often referred to as The Old Language. It was the language spoken by the first Lojius," Karnella preceded with her explanation, ignoring the frustrated reactions.
Dariu was already familiar with that information. Besides the obvious names of the four basic spells, Arsel had taught him about Lardhia and shared some words he had picked up during his travels
"Now one might ask themselves; why would I need to learn Lardhia? If you did pounder this question in your mind; you're but a mere fool."
Is it not to properly articulate the incantations? Dariu asked himself.
"Lojia is unforgiving," said Karnella, "while some may consider memorizing the incantations phonetically, or perhaps learning only the words necessary for that specific incantation, that could prove to be a lethal mistake; make one wrong pronounciation and you could die."
As everyone followed along with Karnella, the sounds of heavy breathing and blood dripping on the ground prompted them to look in the direction of the door. There stood a girl with a missing right arm, poorly bandaged with a piece of clothing. Blood leaked from the arm, and the girl's face seemed pale, her breath heavy, almost as if she was on the verge of collapsing. She was one of the victims from the previous night—an unlucky soul badly injured by the nightmare creatures.
"I am so sorry ma'am, please forgive me for being late, I am not feeling well," the girl implored in a desperate, devastated voice, tears running down her cheeks.
"Take a seat," offered Karnella in a nonchalant tone.
The girl walked in heavy steps, struggling to stay on her feet. With great difficulty and after some long moments, she finally reached the unoccupied seat next to Dariu. She sat down, and felt the shackles wrap around her feet.
"Moro Tarlus Nara," Karnella began incantating, with a sequence of hand movements.
"No! No,no,no,NO WAIT PLEASE!!" The girl begged, knowing what would be coming next.
Soon, everyone else realized what was about to occur.
"Stop! You can't do that!" Yelled Dariu, in a hopeless attempt to break free from his shackles.
Karnella crafted a finger gun, a small orb of energy materializing at the end of her nail. She then aimed it towards the girl.
"Mommy... help me," the girl cried, now in a cascade of tears, peeing herself, and closing her eyes.
"Kudaishi," said Karnella, unleashing a beam of energy that pierced the girl's head, causing it to explode and splatter blood on Dariu and all the nearby students.
In utter shock, Dariu sat there with an open mouth and widened eyes, his gaze fixed on the beheaded body right next to him. Blood continued to flow from the neck as the body remained upright, refusing to fall over.
"Now then, as I was saying, it is crucial for all Lojius to learn Lardhia," Karnella proceeded in her explanation, completely unfazed by what had just happened.